The Lighting Control Innovation Award was created in 2011 as part of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Illumination Awards program, which recognizes professionalism, ingenuity and originality in lighting design. LCA is proud to sponsor the Lighting Control Innovation Award, which recognizes projects that exemplify the effective application of lighting controls in nonresidential spaces.

This month, we will explore the role that lighting controls play in enhancing the presentation experience in a museum auditorium, specifically, following the renovation of the New York Historical Society Orientation Theatre. Lighting control design by Ted Mather, lighting designer for Available Light. Lighting controls by ETC.

The New York Historical Society Auditorium was an extensive renovation. Shown here is the space before the renovation.

A custom LED fixture with a 2” diameter flangeless glass cylinder magically protrudes from the new acoustic ceiling. The entire fixture is removable from the front for service and replacement. Custom dimming power supplies provide control of every single fixture, allowing for dynamic effects during the show. A custom automated truss lowers for fixture servicing.

Throughout the day, “New York Story,” a multi-media film featuring a 70’ wide high definition projection on 15 moving screens, all augmented with theatrical lighting plays. The theatre is a multi-purpose space suitable for
everything from poetry readings to Lady Gaga. The events system consists of fixtures that are pre-programmed to a dozen different configurations, such as single podium, Powerpoint presentation, roundtable, and full stage. The staff can summon these scenes and dozens of color combinations through an intuitive touch screen controls.

As visitors enter during preshow, they are bathed in slowly color-changing walls, seats and soft orbs of light on the show curtain. The show lighting is recorded on a four-universe DMX recorder to ensure the show plays back
to SMPTE consistently.

Flickering flame effects start in the center with the film, and transition into the house as fire “spreads” in the narrative.

Textured light reflected off moving mirrors extends the movement of light in the film out into the house.

Audience members become part of the show in a sequence about 1980s Rap in NYC. Since the arrival of this permanent installation, attendance at NYHS has tripled.

Energy Efficiency: LEDs were used extensively. A custom driver was developed to ensure smooth fades to black, replicating the smooth fades of traditional sources. Automated theatrical fixtures are all halogen, which are
completely off while not in use, unlike arc-lamp fixtures.